pierceforehands
Professional
Looking at all the semi reasonably possible options.
1984 Australian Open- Snapped Martina's 6 slam winning streak, and likely denying her the Calendar Grand Slam, by beating her in the semis. In the final vs Evert took the 1st set in a tiebreaker, but struggled with her serve all day, even moreso after the first set, I believe she had a double digit double fault total for the day, and dropped the match in 3. Chris didn't play her best, and was even upset with her husband after about her performance, but did enough to win, and handily winning both the 2nd and 3rd sets.
1986 French Open- Was points from beating Navratilova in the semis, but on clay, would have been the heavy underdog vs Chris (who she had yet to score her first win on any surface yet, despite numerous tough matches already) in the final. In the final Chris played a bad first set, then some of her best tennis ever from after the first couple games of the 2nd onwards. Martina also helped give her an opening to regain form and confidence by not coming to the net enough. It is possible Sukova (who would have never been overconfident against Chris anywhere, let alone on clay, unlike Martina) might have also been able to capatilize on Chris's slow start, but keep the pressure on the way Martina didn't, even if probably not.
1986 Wimbledon- Lost a very tough 3 setter to Chris in the quarters, but would have had to beat a top form Hana, then an in form Martina in the final. This one probably isn't even worth mentioning come to think of it.
1986 US Open-Had her first ever win over Chris in the semis, decisively so in fact, but lost pretty comfortably to Martina in the final. Graf had 3 match points vs Martina in the semis, perhaps she would have had a better chance vs her? Then again Graf won 20 straight times vs Sukova after losing their first ever match so probably not, but Graf would have been in her first slam final, while Sukova would have had considerably more big match experience at that point, had she played Graf.
1987 Wimbledon- Came into Wimbledon super confident after beating Chris and Martina back to back to beat Eastbourne. Lost a thriller 10-8 in the 3rd to Shriver in the quarters. Even if she wins she has Graf (who she has the aforementioned terrible record against) then a Martina in some of her best ever form at this Wimbledon, and playing far better than Eastbourne, in the final. Also probably a long shot at best to ever go all the way.
1989 Australian- Made the final, beating Navratilova in a great match in the quarters en route. Lost pretty comfortably to Graf in the final though, although the score 6-4, 6-4 sounds competitive, watching the match it was less so than the score suggests, and she never looked close to having a chance of winning.
1990 Australian- This might be my personal choice. Lost a tough 3 setter to a totally out of form Graf in the semis. Actually was up a break twice in the 3rd set. Would have been the favorite vs 1st slam finalist Fernandez in the final, and likely won.
1993 US Open- Now considered clearly past her prime, played some really good tennis to make the final, including beating Navratilova and Sanchez Vicario. Lost handily to Graf though, in what I think was their final ever match of her long losing streak to Graf. Like the 89 Australian, probably even moreso, never looked like having a chance to win.
I guess I would have to say it would be the 1990 Australian Open, followed by the 84 Australian Open, then either the 86 or 93 US Opens. I would have said 87 Wimbledon would be up there had she been in a different part of the draw, but her draw was too murderous (of note she has a very bad head to head with Shriver too) to ever go completely through.
1984 Australian Open- Snapped Martina's 6 slam winning streak, and likely denying her the Calendar Grand Slam, by beating her in the semis. In the final vs Evert took the 1st set in a tiebreaker, but struggled with her serve all day, even moreso after the first set, I believe she had a double digit double fault total for the day, and dropped the match in 3. Chris didn't play her best, and was even upset with her husband after about her performance, but did enough to win, and handily winning both the 2nd and 3rd sets.
1986 French Open- Was points from beating Navratilova in the semis, but on clay, would have been the heavy underdog vs Chris (who she had yet to score her first win on any surface yet, despite numerous tough matches already) in the final. In the final Chris played a bad first set, then some of her best tennis ever from after the first couple games of the 2nd onwards. Martina also helped give her an opening to regain form and confidence by not coming to the net enough. It is possible Sukova (who would have never been overconfident against Chris anywhere, let alone on clay, unlike Martina) might have also been able to capatilize on Chris's slow start, but keep the pressure on the way Martina didn't, even if probably not.
1986 Wimbledon- Lost a very tough 3 setter to Chris in the quarters, but would have had to beat a top form Hana, then an in form Martina in the final. This one probably isn't even worth mentioning come to think of it.
1986 US Open-Had her first ever win over Chris in the semis, decisively so in fact, but lost pretty comfortably to Martina in the final. Graf had 3 match points vs Martina in the semis, perhaps she would have had a better chance vs her? Then again Graf won 20 straight times vs Sukova after losing their first ever match so probably not, but Graf would have been in her first slam final, while Sukova would have had considerably more big match experience at that point, had she played Graf.
1987 Wimbledon- Came into Wimbledon super confident after beating Chris and Martina back to back to beat Eastbourne. Lost a thriller 10-8 in the 3rd to Shriver in the quarters. Even if she wins she has Graf (who she has the aforementioned terrible record against) then a Martina in some of her best ever form at this Wimbledon, and playing far better than Eastbourne, in the final. Also probably a long shot at best to ever go all the way.
1989 Australian- Made the final, beating Navratilova in a great match in the quarters en route. Lost pretty comfortably to Graf in the final though, although the score 6-4, 6-4 sounds competitive, watching the match it was less so than the score suggests, and she never looked close to having a chance of winning.
1990 Australian- This might be my personal choice. Lost a tough 3 setter to a totally out of form Graf in the semis. Actually was up a break twice in the 3rd set. Would have been the favorite vs 1st slam finalist Fernandez in the final, and likely won.
1993 US Open- Now considered clearly past her prime, played some really good tennis to make the final, including beating Navratilova and Sanchez Vicario. Lost handily to Graf though, in what I think was their final ever match of her long losing streak to Graf. Like the 89 Australian, probably even moreso, never looked like having a chance to win.
I guess I would have to say it would be the 1990 Australian Open, followed by the 84 Australian Open, then either the 86 or 93 US Opens. I would have said 87 Wimbledon would be up there had she been in a different part of the draw, but her draw was too murderous (of note she has a very bad head to head with Shriver too) to ever go completely through.
